Tractor.



C. H. MARTIN,

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 17. 1914.

Patented Apr. 24,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- W'ITNESSES: INNTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

c. H. MARTlN.

TRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED 050.11. 19 4.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES:

A TTORNE Y.

c H. MARTIN.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 17, 19M.

WITNESSES- A TTORNE Y.

[N VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 24,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GHARLES'H. MARTIN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

moron.

To all whom it may com-em.-

Be it known thatI, CHARLES H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of S ringfield, county of Hampden, and State 0 ,Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved tractor for road or field service in hauling, turning, and backing with a trailer. Trac tors for this general purpose have heretofore been used. .-The object of this invention is to improve the tractor for this purpose and make it of more general application as a mechanical substitute for'a horse. Other objects will appear in the detailed description and an nexed claims.

'The analogy between the operations and adaptability of the horse in handling wagons or trailers and the improved tractor will be developed and pointed out in the description of the operation.

The preferred embodiment of my invention chosen for the purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

' which-- 22 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation with parts shown in section and parts broken'away-of therear tor s owing end of the tractorand front end of the.

trailer;

Fi 5 is a plan view of parts bf the trace the mounting arrangement of a power jack; Fig. 6 is a side elevation'of the rear end of a tractor having a caterpillar tread;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of tractor, and trailer connecting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a d1agrammat1c view of thetractor-trailer combination indicating the neces sity of avoiding twopivotal points inthe connection of t e tractor and trailer if the latter is to be backed; and

jack or liftin .plun r 12. T

Specification of Letters Patent. P tented Apr. 24, 191 '7. 4 Application filed December 17, 1914. Serial No. 877,698.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the draw-bar connection Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the jack shown in Fig. 7 and illustrates the manner in which air is supplied to the cylinder thereof.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, A represents the tractor unit and B the trailer unit of the combination. The frame of the tractor is indicated by the numeral 1 and comprises spaced channel shaped members; which are suitably journaled upon thereaiaxle 2 of the tractor. Mounted on the axl'l2 and be tween the frames 1 is the wheel 3, shown-as a multiple wheel of the sectional block-tread type, but which may be of any other suitable form. The rear wheel 3 is driven by the bevel-gearing shown from a shaft 4 suitably mounted in brackets at-' tached to the frame 1. 21're resents a jackshaft rearwardly extending rom the transmission of the tractor and, slidable thereon,

by any suitable means (not shown), is a pinion 22, which is arranged to drive either of the gear trains shown in Fig. 3. The Shaft 4 is driven by one of these trains, and

dicatedin the drawing. The j ack-shaft 21, winch 23, and both gear trains are suitably mounted in frames secured to and extending transversely across the main frames 1.

. .Pivotally mounted on the rear axle 2, by

means of the bearings 8 (see Figs. 2 and 4), is a movable frame 5. The latter, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, comprises a pair of spaced channel shaped members, which extend for- Wardly and rearwardly from the rear axle. The rearward extensions of this frame 5 are adapted to underlie the front axle 6 of the trailer unit-B, as clearl shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Securedto and" ridging across the forward portions-of the. frame 5'is a bar 9 (see Fig. 2). Above the latter is-alnother bar Tsimilarly arranged and secured? to the frames 1 of the tractor. v This bar 7 is bent infthe form of an inverted U, the horizontal of which is spaced from the bar 9.

terposed between these bars 7 and 9 is a mechanism 10 which has a he; jack here shown is of a wellown commercial form fitted with means to engage the bar 9. The. plunger 12 is also provided with means to engage the the other gear train drives a winch 23, as intions a plurality of holes, best seen in Fig. 3,

which are arranged to receive the pins shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to engage the axle 6 of the trailer.

Supported from the axle 6 by means of the semi-elliptical springs 19 is the usual platform 20, which supports the fifth-wheel structure. The structure of the trailer B is not specifically described as it is of a common well-lmown form. That is to say, the trailer unit is permissibly of the ordinary horse-drawn type of truck and the tractor is adapted to coiiperate with the ordinary truck heretofore drawn by horses. These trucks have, as a rule, a centrally arranged member 17 (see Fig. 3), which issecured to and extends forwardly from the platform 20. This member is rovided ordinarily for the purpose of receivlng the wagon-pole, by means of which the vehicle is drawn by horses. It is also made use of in my invention as a'means to attach the draft-rigging or draw-bar, andthe preferred detail of the latter is clearly shown in Fig. 9. The

trailer B is provided with the usual fifth wheel structure for steering and for the purposes of this description all those parts movable with the lower fifth wheel member may be considered the steering mechanism of the trailer. operably engaged to steer the trailer may properly be called a part of the steering mechanlsm.

a the figure.

Loosely mounted on the bar 7 and spanning the head of the plunger 12 of the jack 10, is a casing 13 and movable therein against the coiled springs shown is a plunger, which is fixed to a draw-bar 14. Fixed to the member 17 by the removable pins 18' is a tongue 16 and the latter is connected to the bar 14, by the link 15 as clearly shown in The two pivotal connections between the bar 1i and tongue 16 are arranged at right angles one to the other so that vertical and horizontal movements in the draft rigging are permitted. 4 7

Figs. 5 and- 7 show a modified form of tractor in which the draft rigging heretofore described is omitted and the rearwheels 3 are driven by the centrally disposed transmission shown. A second pair of pins in the movable frames 5 are arranged behind the axle 6 and serve as the draft connection, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The frames 5 are in this modification operated by a jack arranged between the dual seats of the tractor as shown in Fig. 5. The frames 1' of the tractor A bear thereon upwardly extend- Thus any part which can be" ing members 25 and secured thereto are suitable brackets 26 between and on which the jack cylinder 28 is pivotally mounted (see Fig. 10). The plunger 29 of the jack is pivotally connected to a bracket 27 fixed to the movable frames 5. This jack isar ranged for operation by compressed air, which is carried to the cylinder 28 by a pipe 31. A suitable two way valve interposed in this pipe is indicated at 30 and controls the admission and exhaustion of air from the cylinder 28 in a well-known manner. The manner in which air is introduced into the jack cylinder is clearly shown in Fig. 10.

The cylinder 28 has a head 28' formed with I an upwardly extending ear and passing therethrough and through the brackets 26 is a hollow steel spindle 40. The latter is plugged. at one end as shown and is con-' nected at the other end to the pipe 31. This member 40 has a port 40' formed therein which is always in registration with a centrally and vertically arranged passage through the head 28 leading to the interior of the cylinder. Suitable stufling boxes 41 on either side of the head 28 prevent leakage of air from the movable cylinder 28 around the spindle 40. The pipe 31 may be connected to a suitable reservoir supplied from a compressor which is controlled by a pressure operated governor. These elements are well known and the principle of operation of such apparatus is well understood.

Accordingly this apparatus has not been illustrated since any of the commercial forms of compressed air apparatus might be used to supply the cylinder 28. The frames 5 are movable by this jack in an obvious manner analogous to that already described.

The frame 1 of the tractor shown in Fig. 7 is not directly connected to the axle 2 as in the form of trailer shown in Fig. 1. This connection is modified to permit a yieldable support for the tractor body. Secured to the forwardly extending portions of the frames 5 are leaf springs 32, which extend downwardly and rearwardly in cantaliver fashion toward the end of the frames 1. Resting upon the free ends of these springs are seats, which bear thereon coil springs 33. The upper ends of these coil springs are tied to the frames 1 by bolts 34:. Thus the frames 1 are yieldably supported from the frames 5. Tie bars 35 are arranged to connect the rear ends of the frames 1 with the bearings, upon which the frames 5 are described in connection with Figs. 5 and 7,

except that the rear wheels 3 are replaced by a sprocket or sprockets 39. Pivotally mounted on the axle 2 is a member 36 having arms extending rearwardly and .forwardly fromthe axle. On these arms are mounted rolls 37 which may be of any suitable or desired number. These rolls 37 and the sprocket 39 support a chain 38, which carries a plurality of traction blocks and is propelled by the sprocket. This type of tractive member is especially suitable for soft soils, such as plowed fields and the like, since it has at all times a number of traction blocks in contact with the ground. It is also to be noted that the pivotal mounting .of the arm 36 permits the caterpillar chain 38 to walk over an obstruction. Thus if a stone isin the athef the chain 38 the forward rolls will raised thereby and the tractor will pass over the stone without In. operation the tractor may be backed under the forward end of a trailer (an ordinary-truck or specially built trailer) and connected thereto through-the draw bar.

Thisis like harneming horses to the truck. If the load is very heavy, or other conditions make it hard to start the'load, the elevating mechanism is operated to lift the front end of the trailerand throw its weight on the power driven wheels to-increase the traction. The traction can be thus increased either at the start or while under way. This islike a horse digging his hoofs into the ground and shifting his weight'largely to his rear legs by crouching when the going. is hard. When the'going is easy the trailer may be lowered to rest on its own front supports and the tractor then goes along easily and steers the trailer. Thus unnecessary strains on the. tractor (the ex-' pensive part of' the equipment) are eliminated and the tractor saves itself and adapts itself (with the direction of the driver) like a horse,'to the conditions under which I it works. 7

The arrangement of the traction wheels,

with its axle close to the vertical axis of the trailers steering mechanism. and in overlapping relation tothetrail ers front combination a-qn a Fig. 8:.- (Therefore,

wheels, is preferred for steering purposes. With this arrangement thefdraw bar has its vertical pivot preferably above the rear axle of the tractor. The latter can thus haul and steer, the trailer soqthat its steering wheels will 'approxim ately follow. the rear wheels of the tractor, .-When' the tractor backs, however, the pivot in the ,1 draw b acting fwith the fifth wheel misdirect the trailer This considering the pivotal conn the elevating mechanism is. used-to" opera ably engage the steering parts of the trailer to pro erly direct the latter through its fifth w eel connection alone. In this operation of backing the draw bar function of steering is rendered inoperative.

In disclosing the preferred form of the invention the mechanism to perform the desired operations has been purposely located on the tractor. The reason for this is that the tractor, like a horse, can thus be used with a variety of trailers of ordinary and well-known construction; It is entirely possible, however, to re-locate the parts for the functions described Without departing from the invention.

What I claim is:

1 A tractor comprising in combination, a draw bar device adapted for connection with the steering mechanism of atrailer,

said device having a flexible joint to permit relative vertical movement and another flexible joint to permit relative horizontal movement between tractor and trailer for hauling operations, and lifting mechanism -to connect the tractor with the trailer through the steering means of the latter for the purpose described.

2. -A tractor provided with means pivoted thereon and adapted to extend under the steering axle of a trailer, power actuated desired.

3. A separately. operable and, steerable tractor constructed for road and field use to turn in narrow'spaces, a trailer also constructed .for road and field use and provided with steering means to turn in narrow spaces, a draw bar constructed to connect the tractor with the steering means of the trailer, whereby the latter may be hauled and guided by the former, and mechanism on the tractor operable independently of the draw bar when the trailer is stationary or in motion to elevate the front end of the trailer, whereby the weight on the traction wheels is increased or diminished as desired. v

- 4;. A tractor for road or field use having front steering and; rear traction wheels, a lifting frame pivoted on' the rear axle having-supporting. means extending rearwardly of said axle. andladapted to pass under the iler, .;mechanism operable to l pivot, whereby said ag lift and release a e'sird', .,and a draw bar to with a trailer independ- 5. A tractor provided with means adapted to be connected with the steering mechanism of a trailer to haul and guide the latter and independent devices operable by the driver of the tractor when the latter is moving or stationary to lift the front end of the connected trailer by operable engagement with the steering mechanism thereof, whereby the trailer may be guided either through said means or said. devices and the steer- 13 ing mechanism of the trailer.

CHARLES H. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

F. G. NEAL, 

